GSU’s Walker ready for breakout year

But Zach Walker also comes from Johnson County, where he also earned a reputation as a big-play guy.

Zach didn’t have a Herschel-type freshman year – remember Herschel led Georgia to a national championship in his first year – but Zach Walker might just be the guy Georgia Southern is looking to for key offensive contributions in hopes of getting past two FCS semi-final finishes.

Last season, Zack had 12 catches for 220 yards and a touchdown. In his Johnson County days, those numbers might have represented one game.

But Walker was never discouraged at GSU, despite the lack of action. He didn’t start a game but finished third among the Eagles in receptions and receiving yards.

He came on strong at the end of the season with half his catches in the playoffs. His lone touchdown came at a critical point against Wofford on the road, swinging the momentum in a key Southern Conference matchup.

With inexperience at quarterback this season, GSU will probably look to run a little more. That means opponents will be stacking the box. That means one-on-one coverage on the outside when the Eagles do look to pass.

That means I like Walker to come up big.

Like a natural basketball rebounder in the paint, Walker (6-1, 176) can go up in a crowd and come down with the ball. He had an excellent spring. His 3,050 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns during his high-school career at Johnson County suggest he can be relied on when GSU tries to throw. And that’s a pretty good option for a running team.